Improvement in automatic fire-extinguishers



EQ-H. AsHcoFT. Automatic Fre-Ex'tingushars.`4 N0. 144,493. A PatentedNov.l1,l873.

WITNESSES. j IJV'VEJVTOR "j` g.) By r m, a",

L//Lz-W- Attorneys.

UNITED STATES PATENT CEEICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISHERS.'

Specification forming part of Letters latent No. 144,493, dated November1l, 1873; application led October 30, 1873.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD H. AsHoRoET, of Boston, in the county ofSuffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Automatic Fire- Extinguishers; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention., such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings7 which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to a novel device for turning on water instand-pipes by means of which fire may be extinguished. It contemplatesan apparatus that will by the expansion of air, due to heat,automatically open the valve or valves in the water-pipe.

In the drawings, Figure lis a section and elevation of my improvement.Fig. 2 shows a variation in its application. Fig. 3 represents a gageand an air-pump for the purpose of testing the air-tightness of thetube.

The following is a description of my invention: A is a cylinder. B is apiston moving snugly therein. C is a shaft that operates the water-cockD, situated in the stand-pipe E. F is a pipe, closed in every partexcept as it opens into the cylinder A. This pipe is provided with aflange on its lower end, by which it can be secured to the top of thecylinder A; or it may be screwed or otherwise fastened thereon. Thelower end of the cylinder A is provided with openings or air-vents a.,and incloses the shaft C sufficiently tight to act merely as a guide.

The operation of the device is as follows: The pipe F is trained intoany apartment of the building, or upon the outside of the buildingadjacent to any structure that in burning would endanger the building,and the other rareied and expands, driving the piston B throughthecylinder A, and the shaft C op crates directly or indirectly to turn thestop- Vcock D in the waterpipe E. The water will then rise through thepipe E, and beprojected through perforations in the pipe upon the partsof the structure on re or endangered.

In order that the pipe F may be readily tested as to its air-tightness,I propose to employ an air-pump, G, above thepiston B and the gage H,and thereby, by exhausting the air from the pipe F, or compressing theair within the pipe F, the gage H will indicate its air-tightness.Several of these automatic devices may be attached to several waterpipes leading to the different apartments, so that the action of theair-pipe F in turning -on the water will not iiood apartments that arenot endangered'.

The devices shown in the drawings for turning on the water are intendedonly as ex amples of the many appliances that may be employed for thatpurpose.

Packing f should be properly placed be tween the joints wherever theyoccur.l Perforations a a are made in the bottom of the cylinder A, abovethe lowest point reached by the piston B, through which the excess ofexpanded air mayfind vent, and which also prevent the drawing back ofthe piston B, and consequently closing of the valve D, owing to a suddencooling of the pipe F. In some instances, however, it might be desirableto have the water automatically turned oif when the fire had becomeextinguished. If desired, a valve opening inward may be placed near thetop of the cylinder A, so that suction due to a sudden cooling of thepipe F may not draw back the piston B, and thus shut off the water; oranarrangement of pawls and ratchets may be made so that the expansionwould open the water-valve; but in drawing4 back, the pawl would rideover the ratchets and not act to close the said valve.

Having thus described my invention, what piston B, pump G, and gage H,substantially as described.

In testilnony that I clailn the foregoing I have hereunto set my handthis 29th day of October, 1873.

EDWARD H. ASHCROFT.

Witnesses z ACLAND BOYLE, LEVERETT L. LEGGETT.

